We are up to the final Mentions email of the year! It has been really overwhelming hearing directly from friends who read these emails, running into some of you out and about, and to see the readership grow so far beyond anything I could have imagined when I started writing these two years ago as an effort to get out of my pandemic-created social bubble.
As things tend to slow down at the end of the year, I like to take a moment and highlight some local non-profits that are worthy of (tax-deductible) donations before the year comes to a close.
I’ll be out of town next week, so no Mentions next week. I also might also take off some or all of January to give myself a short break, so if you don’t see an email for a bit, just know that I’m hibernating to restore my energy.
Thank you so much for reading these emails, for hosting community-building events, and for sharing the interesting things you are doing with me so I can include them in Michael’s Mentions. Wishing you a happy solstice and a Happy New Year!
- Michael MacDonald
Here are some things to do this week:
FRIDAY 12/19:
🎶 Friday Night Moonlight Hike with Steve Blum
Treepeople, Coldwater Canyon
6:30pm check in, 7pm music, 8pm hikes
$22 (tickets)
(music sample)
🚲 Look & Allez LA Vision Ride
Allez LA, Highland Park
6pm
Free!
SATURDAY 12/20:
🎶 Afternoon at the Audubon Center with Two Point
Audubon Center at Debs Park, El Sereno
12pm-2pm
pay what you can (rsvp)
(music sample)
I saw Two Point perform at a Glass Hill event over the summer and it was more R&B than the ambient-ish samples linked above, but should be fun no matter what they play.
🎹 Fundamentals of Subtractive Synthesis Workshop
Vintage Synthesizer Museum, Highland Park
12pm-4pm
$175 (tickets)
I am not going to this class Saturday, but just putting it out there that I am kinda interested in learning about how synthesizers work and may be interested in going to a synth class in the future - let me know if you’re interested too.
💃 Holiday Cabaret w/ Shana Sarett & Lucy Blehar
Zebulon, Elysian Valley (aka Frogtown)
7pm
$20 (tickets)
Some organizations worth considering for end of year giving:
Inclusive Action for the City
Led by my friend Rudy Espinoza, Inclusive Action for the City is a nonprofit community development organization that helps fight the impacts of gentrification and capitalism by empowering low-income, BIPOC, and immigrant entrepreneurs. The organization has been at the frontlines of the fight to protect and legalize street vending, and provides access to capital for amazing small businesses. Link to donate!
CHIRLA
Immigrants have been under a complete assault by our racist president and his racist administration. the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights Los Angeles has worked diligently to help inform our immigrant community members of their rights, and has filed multiple cases against Kristi Noem to stop her cruel and hateful actions. Link to donate!
LA Forward Institute
LA Forward is one of the local progressive political organizations that most inspires me with their thoughtful approach to political advocacy and is led by friend David Levitus. LA Forwad’s 501(c)3 non-profit branch is the LA Forward Institute, which is the home of my favorite local podcast, LA Podcast. Link to donate!
Transforming Family
Being a trans kid or parents of a trans kid is challenging to begin with, even before the hateful targeting of these vulnerable families by our transphobic, bigoted federal government. Transforming Family is an LA-based non-profit that provides support to families as they educate themselves and find local community support. Link to donate!
Investing In Place
Since 2015, Investing In Place has focused on the way that our local government spends on transportation, led by friend Jessica Meaney. Link to donate!
Streetsblog Los Angeles
Friends Damien Newton, Sahra Sulaiman, and Joe Linton provide important and award-winning reporting on local transportation, social justice, and urbanism topics within Los Angeles. Their reporting has regularly led to better public policy and has changed the public conversation on transit and active transportation. Link to donate!
The Eagle Rock Association (TERA)
I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the non-profit that I have stepped up to lead over the past year after the passing of my friend and former president, Greg Merideth. It has been an important year for our org, as we started two new initiatives and I am really excited about the coming year. If you are in or around Eagle Rock, I hope you will consider supporting our efforts. Link to donate!
